System and method of managing displays at a portable computing device and a portable computing device docking station

• US 9,201,593 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Collopy, Thomas Kevin, Tessitore, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Khanh
• Application Number:
  US12/645,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,170 Days
• Field of Search: 710/303, 710/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/10 Program control for peripheral devices G06F13/14 - G06F13/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A method of managing a portable computing device (PCD) display and a PCD docking station display when a PCD is docked with a PCD docking station is disclosed and may include connecting a PCD data driver to the PCD docking station display, transmitting a primary display signal to the PCD docking station display, and transmitting a secondary display signal to the PCD display. The method may include displaying primary information at the PCD docking station display. The method may also include displaying secondary information at the PCD docking station display.

Claims

1. A method of managing a portable computing device (PCD) display and a PCD docking station display when a PCD is docked with a PCD docking station, the method comprising:

a display management module connecting a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) data driver on the PCD to the PCD docking station display when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

transmitting a primary display signal as an LVDS display signal from the PCD to the PCD docking station display;

transmitting a secondary display signal from the PCD to the PCD display;

displaying primary information at the PCD docking station display using the transmitted primary display signal from the PCD; and

displaying secondary information at the PCD display using the transmitted secondary display signal from the PCD.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary information comprises application content, video content, album artwork, a contact list, a call history, a caller photo, a caller number, an email content, game content, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary information comprises one or more application commands, one or more video controls, one or more audio controls, a numeric keypad, an email list, one or more game controls, or a combination thereof.

4. A portable computing device (PCD), comprising:

a PCD display;

means for connecting a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) data driver on the PCD to a PCD docking station display of a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

means for transmitting a primary display signal as an LVDS display signal from the PCD to the PCD docking station display for display of primary information at the PCD docking station display;

means for transmitting a secondary display signal from the PCD to the PCD display; and

means for displaying secondary information at the PCD display using the transmitted secondary display signal from the PCD.

5. The portable computing device of claim 4, wherein the primary information comprises application content, video content, album artwork, a contact list, a call history, a caller photo, a caller number, an email content, game content, or a combination thereof.

6. The portable computing device of claim 4, wherein the secondary information comprises one or more application commands, one or more video controls, one or more audio controls, a numeric keypad, an email list, one or more game controls, or a combination thereof.

7. A portable computing device (PCD), comprising:

a PCD display;

a dock connector operable to provide a physical connection between a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) data driver on the PCD and a PCD docking station display of a PCD docking station; and

a processor, wherein the processor is configured to;

connect the LVDS data driver on the PCD to the PCD docking station display when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

transmit a primary display signal as an LVDS display signal from the PCD to the PCD docking station display;

transmit a secondary display signal from the PCD to the PCD display;

display primary information at the PCD docking station display using the transmitted primary display signal from the PCD; and

display secondary information at the PCD display using the transmitted secondary display signal from the PCD.

8. The portable computing device of claim 7, wherein the primary information comprises application content, video content, album artwork, a contact list, a call history, a caller photo, a caller number, an email content, game content, or a combination thereof.

9. The portable computing device of claim 7, wherein the secondary information comprises one or more application commands, one or more video controls, one or more audio controls, a numeric keypad, an email list, one or more game controls, or a combination thereof.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

connecting a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) data driver on a portable computing device (PCD) to a PCD docking station display of a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

transmitting a primary display signal as an LVDS display signal from the PCD to the PCD docking station display;

transmitting a secondary display signal from the PCD to the PCD display;

displaying primary information at the PCD docking station display using the transmitted primary display signal from the PCD; and

displaying secondary information at the PCD display using the transmitted secondary display signal from the PCD.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the primary information comprises application content, video content, album artwork, a contact list, a call history, a caller photo, a caller number, an email content, game content, or a combination thereof.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the secondary information comprises one or more application commands, one or more video controls, one or more audio controls, a numeric keypad, an email list, one or more game controls, or a combination thereof.

13. A method of managing a portable computing device (PCD) display and a PCD docking station display when a PCD is docked with a PCD docking station, the method comprising:

a display management module connecting a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) data driver on the PCD to the PCD docking station display when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

transmitting a PCD display signal as an LVDS display signal from the PCD to the PCD docking station display;

converting the PCD display to a touch screen input device;

displaying a generic touch screen user interface on the PCD display; and

receiving one or more commands via the generic touch screen user interface.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

searching a dynamic touch screen user interface table when an application is selected; and

determining whether an application-defined touch screen user interface is available.

15. A portable computing device (PCD), comprising:

a PCD display;

means for connecting a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) data driver on the PCD to a PCD docking station display of a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

means for transmitting a PCD display signal as an LVDS display signal from the PCD to the PCD docking station display;

means for converting the PCD display to a touch screen input device;

means for displaying a generic touch screen user interface on the PCD display; and

means for receiving one or more commands via the generic touch screen user interface.

16. The portable computing device of claim 15, further comprising:

means for searching a dynamic touch screen user interface table when an application is selected; and

means for determining whether an application-defined touch screen user interface is available.

17. A portable computing device (PCD), comprising:

a PCD display;

a dock connector operable to provide a physical connection between a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) data driver on the PCD and a PCD docking station display of a PCD docking station; and

a processor, wherein the processor is configured to;

connect the LVDS data driver on the PCD to the PCD docking station display when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

transmit a PCD display signal as an LVDS display signal from the PCD to the PCD docking station display;

convert the PCD display to a touch screen input device;

display a generic touch screen user interface on the PCD display; and

receive one or more commands via the generic touch screen user interface.

18. The portable computing device of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to:

search a dynamic touch screen user interface table when an application is selected; and

determine whether an application-defined touch screen user interface is available.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

connecting low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) data driver on a portable computing device (PCD) to a PCD docking station display of a PCD docking station when the PCD is docked with the PCD docking station;

transmitting a PCD display signal as an LVDS display signal from the PCD to the PCD docking station display;

converting the PCD display to a touch screen input device;

displaying a generic touch screen user interface on the PCD display; and

receiving one or more commands via the generic touch screen user interface.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the stored instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

searching a dynamic touch screen user interface table when an application is selected; and

determining whether an application-defined touch screen user interface is available.